Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 8.232
The Gopīs Receive an Unmatched Favor
“ ‘When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord’s arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?’”
What the purport teaches
- During the rāsa-līlā, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa embraced the gopīs around their necks with His arms.
- This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world.
- Even the most beautiful heavenly girls could not imagine such favor. Materially admired beauty among worldly women is still less a measure of it.
Try this today
Write a brief reminder: “Material beauty is not a measure of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental favor.”
Ask yourself
How does this verse challenge the idea that outward beauty measures spiritual favor?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.